Reformatting

The Reformatting Unit identifies significant and irreparable brittle items from within the University Libraries collections and engages a variety of options to preserve the intellectual content of those materials. The Unit is located in 836 Hesburgh Library and is supported by one full time staff member; Dorothy Snyder, Reformatting Unit Coordinator; grant staff; and part time student assistants.The unit is supervised by Julie Arnott, Head, Preservation Department.

The Unit works closely with Collection Development and Acquisitions staff to prioritize materials and provide the most appropriate replacement or reformatting option - typically preservation microfilming or preservation photocopying. The viability of digital formats for preservation and access is being explored.Reformatting Unit staff physically prepare materials for reformatting, work with vendors to procure appropriate reformatting services, and inspect materials for quality upon their receipt.

NEH Preservation Grant: The Libraries recently received an NEH grant to preserve its endangered Catholic collections. See Libraries Awarded NEH Grant to Preserve Catholic Collections (Access 85, Fall 2004).

For more information about the University Libraries approach to the preservation of its brittle collections, please see Nicholson Baker's Double Fold: A Response (Access 79, Fall 2001).